TOYOTA INAUGURATES 2 SPECIALIZED TEST LABORATORIES

TOKYO―Toyota Motor Company has completed construction of two new laboratories near Nagoya that will make possible an expansion of quality control testing capacity, as well as more comprehensive and speedier evaluation of vehicle components and parts at an early stage.

The Reliability Test Laboratory and the No. 8 Technical Laboratory are equipped with a large variety of advanced testing devices. Toyota anticipates that full-scale use of the facilities will further increase the company's capability of producing quality vehicles and parts.

Establishment of the laboratories is part of a plan for reorganizing and improving the overall effectiveness of the company's R & D activities. The restructuring will also allow greater emphasis on vehicular safety studies and exhaust gas emission control investigations.

Part of the Reliability Test Laboratory was opened last May. The fully operational lab now contains special rooms to evaluate the strength and endurance of driving gears, body, chassis and key functional parts.

The No. 8 Technical Laboratory contains a large room where full-scale and selected simulation tests of engine movements are made. Other sections include: a testing room where the long-distance running characteristics of chassis' and dynamos are monitored and evaluated, a room for endurance tests of auxiliary machines and electronic components, and a computer room.

An outstanding feature of the new laboratories is that rapid and extensive testing can be accomplished of prototype vehicles and parts. Special equipment and methods are used to channel the results of these tests quickly and efficiently to appropriate departments.

The new laboratories give functional support to the company's efforts to establish a "Comprehensive Reliability Assurance System." The corporate slogan adopted to help achieve this goal is "Attainment of International Top Level Performance and Reliability."

The organizations feature a data collecting and feedback capability aimed at assuring the long-range reliability of exhaust gas purifying devices.

Since its foundation Toyota has attempted to focus evaluative efforts at each important stage of the manufacturing process―planning, designing, prototype engineering and mass production. This phased development system has simplified finding weak points and making improvements.

Information obtained at each major and intermediate stage is fed back to the preceding stage so that vehicles for the production line may be the best possible.

This systematic method is administered under the corporate slogan of "Good Thinking, Good Products." During this feedback procedure, creative suggestions from many divisions may be adopted.

Completion of the two facilities is now making it possible for engineers and technicians of the Existing Evaluation Department to give more time to innovative R & D programs, since the majority of standard testing assignments have been transferred to the new labs.

Similar to Toyota's Myochi Plant, the new facilities are equipped to contain or control all forms of pollution. The dual walls have no windows and the surrounding green belts have been planted with attractive trees, shrubs and flowers to harmonize with the environment.